Single lesson
Mary's Song
Luke 1:46–56
Mary’s song is a prayer of praise. In these verses, children can hear who is speaking, notice the strong word pictures, and trace how Mary moves from thanking God for what he has done for her to praising his mercy to Israel.
Before you teach
This passage begins with Mary speaking and ends by saying she stayed about three months before returning home. In her song, Mary praises the Lord, speaks about her humble state, describes God’s strength and mercy, and remembers God’s help to Israel and his promise to Abraham and his offspring.
Students will identify Mary as the speaker and explain that her song praises God for his mercy, strength and help, moving from Mary’s own joy to God’s care for the lowly and for Israel.
Welcome: Who is speaking in this song?
5 minBegin by telling the class that this is a song or prayer spoken by Mary. Read Luke 1:46 aloud and ask children to listen for the first words. Point out that “my soul magnifies the Lord” means Mary is making much of the Lord in her praise. This helps children identify the speaker and the purpose of the song right away.
Luke 1:46
Read and explain: Mary praises God for what he has done
8 minRead Luke 1:46-49 slowly. Explain that Mary speaks about her “soul” and “spirit” rejoicing in God. Show that she says God looked at her “humble state” and that the Mighty One has done great things for her. Also note the line, “Holy is his name”, which tells us something important about God.
Luke 1:46, Luke 1:47, Luke 1:48, Luke 1:49
Discuss: The song grows from Mary to many people
7 minRead Luke 1:50-53. Help children hear the movement in the song. Mary first speaks about herself, then about “generations and generations”, and then about proud, lowly, hungry and rich people. Explain these pictures simply: God shows mercy, strength, and care, and he overturns human pride by lifting up the lowly and filling the hungry.
Luke 1:50, Luke 1:51, Luke 1:52, Luke 1:53
Make and respond: An illustrated prayer card
7 minChildren create a small card with one phrase from Mary’s song and a matching picture. Encourage them to choose words about praise, mercy, strength, help or joy from the passage. As they work, ask them to say why they chose that line and what it shows about God. Keep the focus on the exact words of Mary’s song.
Luke 1:47, Luke 1:49, Luke 1:50, Luke 1:54
Closing: Remember God’s help and mercy
3 minFinish by reading Luke 1:54-56. Explain that Mary’s song ends by remembering God’s help to Israel, his mercy, and his words to Abraham and his offspring. Then note the simple ending that Mary stayed about three months and returned home. Review the whole movement of the song from personal praise to God’s help for his people.
Luke 1:54, Luke 1:55, Luke 1:56
Questions to explore
What words show that Mary is the one speaking and praising God?
Look at the repeated words “my soul”, “my spirit” and “my Saviour”, which show Mary speaking personally to praise the Lord.
Luke 1:46, Luke 1:47
Which groups of people are contrasted in the middle of the song, and what does God do with each?
Notice the pairs in the verses: proud and lowly, princes and the lowly, hungry and rich, and read carefully what God does in each line.
Luke 1:51, Luke 1:52, Luke 1:53
How does Mary’s song end differently from how it begins?
At the start Mary speaks about her own joy and humble state, while at the end she speaks about Israel, mercy, Abraham and his offspring.
Luke 1:47, Luke 1:48, Luke 1:54, Luke 1:55
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Mary’s Song Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or textas
- crayons
- scissors
- glue
Try it together
- Read several short lines from Mary’s song and let each child choose one line to copy onto a card.
- Ask each child to draw a simple picture that matches the line, such as joyful praise, helping hands, or food for the hungry.
- Invite children to share their card and explain what their chosen words teach about God.
- Place the cards together in order to show how the song moves from Mary’s praise to God’s help for Israel.
This activity helps children notice the words, images and movement in Mary’s song by pairing one phrase from the passage with a simple visual response.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two or three short phrases to choose from and let them draw before copying only a few words.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to arrange several phrases in order and explain how the song moves from Mary’s own praise to God’s mercy for Israel.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: “Lord, thank you for Mary’s song. Please help us notice your mercy, your strength and your care for the lowly, and help us praise you with truthful and thankful hearts. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Luke 1
46 Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”
56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.